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Hamlet Laertes And Fortinbras In Hamlet

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In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the theme of revenge appears repeatedly allowing us to explore its connection with human nature in its entirety. Revenge is the key in provoking the savage capabilities of a mind as reason is often disregarded, through the anger and hate that leads one’s conscience to act blindly. More precise to Hamlet is the theme of revenge and its connection with one’s loyalty towards his father. This is seen clearly in the play through the characters of Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras. These three characters follow a similar journey, but have contrasting qualities, which in turn show many ways how the conflict can be acted upon. Laertes and Fortinbras are both foils to Hamlet having the loss of a father and the strong desire for …show more content…

Through learning about Fortinbras’ army going to Poland to fight for worthless territory, Hamlet is impressed by this determination for honour, in contrast to his own procrastination of seeking revenge for his father, saying “Witness this army of such mass and charge / Led by a delicate and tender prince, / Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed / Makes mouths at the invisible event, / Exposing what is mortal and unsure / To all that fortune, death, and danger dare, / Even for an eggshell” (4.4.47-53). Consequentially, this is also the reason he easily named Fortinbras to the throne upon his imminent death, as Hamlet knows the kingdom can use a person with as much ambition as him to lead them into greatness. Hamlet’s envy towards Laertes is found through their competing love for Ophelia. “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers / Could not with all their quantity of love / Make up my sum” (5.1.247-249). Hamlet is seen here comparing his love for her forty thousand times stronger than that of Laertes. Though an exaggeration, it shows the profound love Hamlet truly had for her, however the tragic chain of events has caused them to grow apart. Hamlet’s envy stems from the lack of time he had with Ophelia as he does not know her as well as Laertes, growing up together since birth. It is also worth noting that Hamlet will never know the love between siblings as he is an only

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Each character has an impulse for revenge, but each one reacts in a different manner. Laertes reacts immediately and irrationally. Hamlet procrastinates, muddles through and ponders his fate and does not act until the entire play is over. Fortinbras is in the middle of these two. When his father is killed by King Hamlet, Fortinbras does not act rashly nor does he hesitate and delay his actions.

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768 Words | 4 Pages

The Awakening Of Hamlet and Laertes Comparing Laertes and Hamlet. Figuring out how they are alike and dislike in many ways, most of the play they are well alike. After Hamlet kills Polonius, Laertes down the road faces the same problems as Hamlet; a murdered father. In the beginning Laertes and Hamlet didn’t have the same similarities, but since both of there fathers were murdered they both have something in common. While Hamlet, is messing around and playing with the murderer as if he was an animal, Laertes takes immediate action.

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In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are two characters that serve as foils for Hamlet. They are minor characters to Hamlet’s main, but are important to understanding Hamlet’s character in the play. Laertes and Fortinbras expose Hamlet’s true nature. Laertes, Fortinbras, and Hamlet are all in similar situations. They have all lost their fathers to murder and want some kind of revenge.

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925 Words | 4 Pages

This is evidence of tension between Laertes and Hamlet and foreshadows the later confrontation between them. On the contrary, Hamlet feels romantic love for Ophelia. His love is supposedly so passionate that “Forty thousand brothers/ Could not with all their quantity of love” (V, i, 275-276) care for her as much as he does. Both Laertes and Hamlet carry their love to Ophelia’s grave. While at the grave, Laertes shows his brotherly love for Ophelia once more when he stands inside her grave and exclaims “Hold off the earth awhile,/

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991 Words | 4 Pages

(1.3.30-35) Even in his absence Laertes attempts to control his sister by instilling fear of Hamlet’s love. In hopes that Ophelia will remember his words when he is gone, he uses repetition and emphasizes the “shot and danger of desire.” Ophelia willfully accepts her brother’s

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1029 Words | 5 Pages

Despite their differences towards eachother they’re almost parallel; Fortinbras is also a Prince the Prince of Norway in fact. More importantly Fortinbras has also lost his father in result of violence when Old Hamlet killed his dad in single combat. The only difference they have despite all of their similarities is they’re political opposites, Fortinbras leads an army and is all in for action. He does this in avengance of his lost dad, while Hamlet on the other hand takes a different route. Laertes does have an epiphany, because he starts to understand the actions of the King prior to his battle with Hamlet.

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732 Words | 3 Pages

Laertes believes Hamlet is to blame not only for his father’s death, but also for Ophelia’s death because the death of her father is ultimately what drove her to killing herself. Once Laertes returns, he asks King Claudius who is responsible for the death of his father and is informed that Hamlet is the one to blame. Ophelia enters and reveals to everyone that she has gone crazy and ends up killing herself. Hamlet returns to Denmark and is surprised to find out that Ophelia has died. Laertes and Hamlet start fighting at her burial service and Hamlet says he wants to be

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470 Words | 2 Pages

Laertes was worried about his and his dad’s pride so he decide to murder hamlet. Laertes plans the big fencing match with Hamlet. He tricked hamlet and poisoned the tip of his sword. After he poisoned the tip of his sword everything went downhill. Laertes was being greedy because he wanted his dad to be king and stay king.

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460 Words | 2 Pages

In conclusion, it can be proven that Hamlet truly does love Ophelia. He pretends he isn’t in love with her kind of like in real life. Sometimes people pretend they not care for the people they really care for the most, just like Hamlet did to

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633 Words | 3 Pages

I have come to the conclusion that Hamlet and Laertes are both good people inside. It was the deaths of their loved ones that caused them to do irrational acts. They both only wanted to avenge their loved ones, but they went way too far. I think that Hamlet and Laertes have more similarities than

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965 Words | 4 Pages

In the exposition, Laertes is introduced as the brother to the beautiful Ophelia, the girl to whom Hamlet secretly loves. As a “loving” friend and relative, they both share a common bond in wanting to care for Ophelia, but the future shows differently than what they intended. When Ophelia died towards the end, that common bond they shared for her grew stronger and added to the fire that ultimately drew them to go against one another. Hamlet became rejectful of the news and anger soon took over. When confronted by Laertes and challenged by his feeling for

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1389 Words | 6 Pages

Saying this, Hamlet’s behavior towards Ophelia is crude, rough, and full of anger. Despite Hamlet’s harsh treatment towards Ophelia, he really did love her, but because she was not his main focus, the

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796 Words | 4 Pages

He is Hamlet’s love interest’s brother who implicates Hamlet’s success through conflict. Hamlet sparks the rivalry between the two families by killing some of the family members. By executing Laertes father and Polonius, this causes Polonius’ son, Laertes, to seek vengeance for his father. Consequently, Hamlet’s family goes against him and his love, Ophelia, kills herself. This demonstrates that family ties, even if not blood related, have serious impacts on Hamlet’s life which causes misery to overwhelm his life; this misery prohibits his success.

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411 Words | 2 Pages

Laertes, you’ve come to me impassioned and demanding your father 's vengeance, which is honorable and noble for a son to do. You must, however, focus your strength on the right track, for there are many voices crying out, and very few are right. And so, it is in front of your chosen witnesses that I disclose this faithful account of what has happened since the death of my brother, the late king Hamlet. This matter is a lot more complicated than you might think, for it not only deals with the physical but the mental too, for my nephew and son, the Prince Hamlet whom I love dearly, has gone mad. For what reason I am not sure, it may have been sparked by the refusal of love from your sister, dear Ophelia, whose madness can be laid on the shoulders

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1305 Words | 6 Pages

In Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, revenge plays a major role in how the characters act. They base their actions off of getting revenge. Hamlet, Laertes, and Young Fortinbras all are trying to get revenge for their fathers. All three of the characters use different methods for getting revenge and they all get different results. Shakespeare uses these three characters to show that revenge can consume you and that is all that you want and he shows how harmful it can be.

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